The sketch captures a moment of tense anticipation: Russian soldiers lie resting beneath a cart on the eve of battle. Scattered around them are their belongings and equipment — caps, straps, and gear — while a drum lies nearby, and the dark fold of a tent is visible to the left. Their weapons, typical of the early 19th century, can be discerned: flintlock muskets and officers’ pistols, instruments of both survival and fate. The soldiers gaze into the darkness, toward the battlefield that awaits them. Thoughts of the uncertain future weigh heavily: none knows who will survive the coming day. It is a moment of philosophical reflection, when fatigue forbids sleep, yet duty demands rest. Historical note: The Battle of Krasny, fought on 15–18 November 1812, was one of the decisive engagements of the Patriotic War of 1812. The Russian army under Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov dealt a crushing blow to Napoleon’s retreating forces, shattering their attempt to leave Russia in an organized manner. Preparations for the assault began during the night of 15 November, and by six o’clock in the morning the main Russian forces advanced into battle. The defeat at Krasny cost the French tens of thousands of men, as well as artillery and supply trains, and marked the irreversible collapse of Napoleon’s campaign.